PETALUMA, CALIFORNIA, February 5, 2016 – Last month, Consumer Technology Association (CTA), the consumer electronics industry’s oldest and most established trade association, awarded SmartHouse Integration, southwest Florida’s leading commercial and residential technology integration firm, an unprecedented three Mark of Excellence awards for its pioneering work on the “Sarasota Modern”. SmartHouse Integration founder, president and industry visionary Mark van den Broek, proudly accepted the three awards – The Innovation Award, Lighting Control Project of the Year, and Retrofit Project of the Year (above $50,000) – on behalf of the firm at a special awards ceremony held during CES 2016 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Van den Broek firmly believes that the technology is every bit as important to a contemporary home’s design as the materials and furnishings, themselves. “Technology and design go hand-in-hand and Sarasota Modern, owned by a prolific modern art collector and connoisseur, is a quintessential example of this new reality,” stated van den Broek. “Our team worked closely with the home’s interior designer, Pamela Hughes, to ensure that the smart home technology, controlled by an ELAN Control System, not only met the homeowner’s functional requirements but also amplified the home’s dramatic design features.” For example, to emphasize the home’s stationary art, lights were strategically placed underneath or above the piece to enhance aesthetic. While art-enhancing light found in traditional galleries is usually stark white, van den Broek strived to stay away from the harsh hue and rely on light more conducive to a residential setting. To do so, he played with the light’s consistency and power; using the ELAN system, each light was automated and set on a schedule to fade and brighten at specific times throughout the day. By doing this, he achieved an art gallery-like atmosphere within the home.

“To ensure the home’s art is visually well represented through the day, when the sun begins to set, the lights illuminating each piece of art gradually and automatically increase their yellow hue to compensate for the fading natural sunlight,” continued van den Broek. “It’s a truly stunning effect.”

What’s more, one of the home’s most distinctive art pieces, the Orb – a kinetic aircraft aluminum sculpture designed by Chuck Hoberman – utilizes light as part of its playful interaction of electrical engineering and design. Positioned from the ceiling of the home’s grand salon (or living room), the Orb shifts, morphs and expands, giving the illusion that the fixture is alive and breathing. To complement the shifting nature of the piece, van den Broek installed RGD LED controllable lighting in a circular configuration around the piece. Through ELAN, the homeowner can initiate the Orb’s movement or change the color and frequency of the lighting. “The effect is quite hypnotic,” the homeowner added. “The lighting is spectacular and sets the mood of the room. With the touch of the button, I can change the lighting or the speed of the Orb’s movement from anywhere in the home.”

SmartHouse Integration’s “Sarasota Modern” took home the highly coveted 2016 MOE Innovation Award, was named Lighting Control Project of the Year, and Retrofit Project of the Year (above $50,000). The Innovation Award recognizes an integrator’s creativity and innovative use of technology to achieve a specific application; the Light Control Project of the Year award recognizes the best residential lighting control and/or automated shade/drapery project; and the Retrofit Project of the Year recognizes the best designed and installed dedicated entertainment system, including video display, surround sound, multiple sources and control.

For more information on the Mark of Excellence awards, click here.
For a List of winners, Click here.

About ELAN

ELAN, from Core Brands offers an award-winning line of whole-house entertainment and control solutions distributed through a comprehensive channel of select dealers throughout the United States, Canada, and countries worldwide. To learn more, visit www.elanhomesystems.com.

About Core Brands

Core Brands combines the technology, product and marketing strengths of iconic and award-winning audio, power management and control brands including ELAN®, SpeakerCraft®, Gefen®, Niles®, Panamax®, Proficient®, Furman®, Sunfire®, BlueBolt® and Xantech® to deliver a portfolio of connected home solutions to its channel partners and end users. For further information, visit www.corebrands.com.

About Nortek, Inc.

Core Brands is a Nortek company. Nortek Inc. (Nasdaq: NTK) is a global diversified company with leading brands and innovative, technology-driven products and solutions for lifestyle improvement at home and at work. For further information, please visit www.nortek.com.